Share Audition Experience

NextChapter · 03-02-2011, 07:03 PM

Can anyone share their audition experience? Were people asked to work on their pieces? Are you ever asked to sing another song? Does Elon reach out to high prospects after the audition as I have read happens at some other schools? Seems like everyone is so nice, hard to read any vibes one way or another...

mthopeful15 · 03-04-2011, 12:42 AM

I was not asked to work on any of my pieces. I sang both of my songs, but I think everyone does. I had quite a bit of waiting, but overall, it was a really fun day.

Flossy · 03-06-2011, 09:07 AM

It was a very long day and unfortunately not very informative or well-organized. Furthermore, we were not at all impressed by the quality of the presentation or talent that we encountered on campus. Yes, everyone is very nice but there seemed to be a troubling lack of substance at this school in comparison to others that we visited. Basically,we left feeling slightly puzzled and uncertain. D's not expecting to get in so I guess that's that.

kksmom5 · 03-06-2011, 11:41 AM

Flossy, do you mind elaborating a bit regarding, " . . . seemed to be a troubling lack of substance at this school in comparison . . ."

sassystage · 03-06-2011, 02:31 PM

Flossy, I felt EXACTLY the same about it. Mainly, MTs only take 3 years of acting courses. That was a huge turn off to me. The acting/voice professor said himself that he often has to re-teach the students to act before their showcases senior year. He was very unimpressive as were the students in the class. He gave very poor if ANY critique of the students, had a personality that made me uncomfortable, and the students themselves gave poor performances. The acting class we audited and its students could easily be replaced by a drama class at my public high school. It just seemed...amateur. Overall, I was very disappointed with the quality of the faculty (exception - the dance teachers were quite good!). But many the other applicants loved it, so to each their own! I personally do not expect to get in as I'm obviously not a good fit for the school. I think most schools are able to tell that very quickly or at least, I hope they can. I'd feel bad to take a spot from any student who feels Elon is right for them. After all, it just isn't for me.

Ericsmom · 03-06-2011, 11:20 PM

I'm so sorry you all felt the audition day wasn't everything you had hoped. My son is an MT graduate, currently on a national tour (Mike in A Chorus Line). He felt he had excellent acting training, if that is the area you are concerned about. He was well trained in all MT areas at Elon.

hushinfazen · 03-07-2011, 12:40 AM

I agree with Eric's Mom- Elon is on fire!!!! CURRANT National Tours casts are filled with Elon graduates. They must be doing something right!

3kidznclg · 03-07-2011, 11:37 AM

I never thought I'd defend Elon. But you need to remember that the acting class you saw is just one class in a semester of classes that build upon each other. The acting teacher is a unique guy. He works very hard to be intimidating, and yet is very paternal toward the students. When he said he has to "re-teach" the students, perhaps he was referring to a review that the seniors have, going over specific audition monologues so they are ready for the "real world". I think all of these highly competitive BFA programs have issues - like a dysfunctional family. Favoritism being the biggest. But you cannot argue Elon's success. My child graduates in May and I couldn't be more excited. We did everything wrong in our audition process because I had never seen this site before (did not even know what unified's were!). My child auditioned at three schools and chose Elon. As far as the quality of the talent, not sure what you saw but over the last four years I have been consistently amazed by the amount and quality of talent I have seen. No school is a perfect fit for everyone, I guess that's why kids audition for dozens of schools. I'm just glad we were too uninformed to do that!

Lulu63 · 03-07-2011, 11:54 AM

Wow! 3 schools and your child got in to Elon! That is my D's favorite by far! Even possible she may go there no matter what and re-audition after her Freshman year. I did think the audition day was dragged out and could've been done much better compared to the other schools she has auditioned at but it it has always been her favorite! She has a friend who graduated from Elon is in Jersey Boys in Las Vegas. They must be doing something right. I also love that the students have to take LA classes. Much more well rounded education!

mommamt · 03-07-2011, 12:43 PM

I have to chime in here as well. Elon was my daughters second audition the year of our search, and it was a wonderful experience!! She received her acceptance in December and was beyond thrilled!! It remained in the running up to the very end, and to this day, she and I feel it would have been a great fit for her. She knew many of the students that attended there, and the caliber of instructors and students made it a top notch program!

We were rather naive back when our audition experience began, and we only allowed our daughter to audition for 6 programs. We let her choose what she felt were the best fits for her, and she ended up only doing 5 of the 6 auditions due to early acceptances that she would not have selected the 6th even if accepted over those she already had received. Elon was always one of her top 3 picks and it was a difficult choice up to the end.

I think any student would do well in this challenging and nurturing program, I think their students many successes speak very well of this outstanding program!

MTMama · 03-07-2011, 01:13 PM

Another Elon fan here - and I am wondering about one of sassystage's comments above:

"The acting/voice professor said himself that he often has to re-teach the students to act before their showcases senior year."

Elon doesn't have a senior showcase - so I wonder what this quote is in reference to?

3kidznclg · 03-07-2011, 01:41 PM

Elon doesn't have a showcase, but they do have top casting directors and agents coming to the school auditioning the seniors for the next couple of weeks.

mtdog71 · 03-08-2011, 08:11 PM

Elon does not have a showcase - they have many and the top agents and agencies come to the school - a very good practice. I have to chime in as well, the one acting teacher you referred to is, shall we say, colorful (and effective), but there are at least three other full time acting teachers that work with the MT BFAs as well. This is a well rounded and really wonderful program.... No, I do not work at Elon (ha ha).

Ericsmom · 03-08-2011, 10:36 PM

I wanted to mention that the list someone saw of acting classes the MT students take at Elon is the list of required courses in the major. In my son's case, he added electives in acting his senior year and had dance electives throughout his years at Elon, in addition to the required dance classes. These plus his singing training really helped him grow in all areas of MT.

Ericsmom · 03-08-2011, 10:38 PM

PS - Lulu - my son is friends with the person you know in JB in Las Vegas! She was a grade ahead of him. He saw her recently when his tour spent the night there on the way from Southern CA to Idaho!